Saturday 1 December 1666

Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At home to dinner, and then abroad walking to the Old Swan, and in my way I did see a cellar in Tower Streete in a very fresh fire, the late great winds having blown it up.1 It seemed to be only of log-wood, that Hath kept the fire all this while in it. Going further, I met my late Lord Mayor Bludworth, under whom the City was burned, and went with him by water to White Hall. But, Lord! the silly talk that this fellow had, only how ready he would be to part with all his estate in these difficult times to advance the King’s service, and complaining that now, as every body did lately in the fire, every body endeavours to save himself, and let the whole perish: but a very weak man he seems to be. I left him at White Hall, he giving 6d. towards the boat, and I to Westminster Hall, where I was again defeated in my expectation of Burroughs. However, I was not much sorry for it, but by coach home, in the evening, calling at Faythorne’s, buying three of my Lady Castlemayne’s heads, printed this day, which indeed is, as to the head, I think, a very fine picture, and like her. I did this afternoon get Mrs. Michell to let me only have a sight of a pamphlet lately printed, but suppressed and much called after, called “The Catholique’s Apology;” lamenting the severity of the Parliament against them, and comparing it with the lenity of other princes to Protestants; giving old and late instances of their loyalty to their princes, whatever is objected against them; and excusing their disquiets in Queen Elizabeth’s time, for that it was impossible for them to think her a lawfull Queen, if Queen Mary, who had been owned as such, were so; one being the daughter of the true, and the other of a false wife: and that of the Gunpowder Treason, by saying that it was only the practice of some of us, if not the King, to trepan some of their religion into it, it never being defended by the generality of their Church, nor indeed known by them; and ends with a large Catalogue, in red letters, of the Catholiques which have lost their lives in the quarrel of the late King and this. The thing is very well writ indeed. So home to my letters, and then to my supper and to bed.

The fire continued burning in some cellars of the ruins of the city for four months, though it rained in the month of October ten days without ceasing (Rugge’s “Diurnal”). — B. ↩

For SP's prior view of the drawing:" ...took coach and called at Faythorne’s, to buy some prints for my wife to draw by this winter, and here did see my Lady Castlemayne’s picture, done by him from Lilly’s, in red chalke and other colours, by which he hath cut it in copper to be printed. The picture in chalke is the finest thing I ever saw in my life, I think; and did desire to buy it; but he says he must keep it awhile to correct his copper-plate by, and when that is done he will sell it me. ..."http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1666/11/07/

Gives an epitome of the advices received from Scotland concerning the Presbyterian insurrection, and the defeat given to a great body of rebels "in a pitched field not far from Edinburgh" [upon a slope of the Pentlands] ... [ http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1666/11/29/#c28... ] "which doth much rejoice my Lord Landesdale" ...

Mentions other recent incidents - partly Continental - and also, in a postscript, an order given by Lord Arlington for the arrest of some Frenchmen about to go into Ireland "with letters, upon a bad design".

Letters received from Scotland describe the march of some thousand or twelve hundred rebels towards Edinburgh; but they are without the countenance of any place or person of quality to encourage them. It is not doubted that a speedy and good account will be given of them.

There are ill news from the Barbadoes ... Some notice is added of the proceedings in Barker's case; and also of proceedings in Parliament. ...

Catholic [Roman] vs Protesting Protestants[ Hi Anglican], always brought out the rebellion in people that supported or fought against the powers in vogue. There were [are] greater differences in the Protesting English State Church.There have many migrations from one side to the other e.g Cardinal Newman.

Needs someone of consequence to explain the subtle differences, other than the titular head, for the uninitiated.

Marin Zorzi, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate.In a conversation which I had with Medina he told me that three or four days ago a slight difficulty arose which might destroy the fruit of many months. They had surmounted the point that the king of England would bind himself to the same conditions which the deceased ambassador had arranged. This passed under the title of a new treaty, but in substance it was the old one. His Britannic Majesty undertook that the Portuguese should content themselves with just and not exorbitant conditions. If they are not satisfied with these the king will detach himself from union with them and from assistance. In addition to this the ambassador declares that it is enough to treat with the crown of Portugal, not with Braganza; that in the treaty there will be set down on the one side “the king of Spain” and on the other “the crown of Portugal.”.... The remembrance of what took place with the other ambassador gives rise to suspicions, so the issue is uncertain. He did indeed tell me that if they cut the thread this time it will not be easy to take it up again, and instead of having quiet with Portugal we shall be led into war with France and into bitterness with England.Madrid, the 1st December, 1666.[Italian; deciphered.] http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?co...

117. Marin Zorzi, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate.The French ambassador has roused himself again about the negotiations of this crown with England, and he tries to upset them. He has accordingly informed the ministers that he has powers to treat for an alliance. The government, unwilling at present to enter into negotiation, avoids committing itself. They recognise that this is not the time to give occasion for fresh jealousies and bitterness in the mind of the English ambassador who is prone to suspicion and to anger. Now that they stand upon the point of concluding or of breaking with Portugal, the slightest breath of air is sufficient to produce a storm. Madrid, the 1st December, 1666.[Italian.] http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?co...